There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table.  Even the dogs came and licked his sores.  The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side.  The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’  Luke 16:19-24

Lazarus lay on a stretcher. Sores covered his body, and he cringed as the dogs came and licked them. The feel of their tongue on raw flesh made him cry out in pain. His only hope was in a person who would pass by and show compassion for him. People walked inches from his stretcher, could hear his moans, smell his disease, and see his obvious frailty. How could no one have even the smallest consideration for this level of distress?

An incredibly rich man passed by him every day as Lazarus lay at the gate of the rich man’s estate. Every time the master of the estate left and then returned, he would see Lazarus. Tired of encountering him, wouldn’t he tell a servant to tend to him? Wouldn’t he instruct someone to bring out leftovers from his next party? It would cost him nothing. But instead, there was only a sneer at Lazarus’ request for crumbs. Purple linen never touched the rags of the beggar.

Ah, but how eternity changed everything. The rich man was the one in agony, suffering far more than Lazarus ever did on earth. The rich man asked for something much less than crumbs—just a drop of water. That’s all. But Lazarus could not help him. This was eternity, and God’s judgment is final.

This story serves as another reminder that God judges by the heart. In this case, the person with a heart for God was the beggar. Around the corner, it might have been different if a wealthy man had reached out to a servant for help. The main point isn’t that God despises the rich and favors the poor. God rewards those who fear Him, regardless of their wealth.

Life has many seasons.  I may be the beggar.  I may also be the rich man.  As a beggar, there is grace for every need, no matter who denies me.  As a rich man, I follow Christ, who showed me how to be a servant by laying aside his royal robes to walk the path of humiliation.

With eternity in view, I align my perspectives.  Amen